For 36 years, Trish has been a calm and caring presence on our night shifts, supporting patients and families with kindness and compassion. As she prepares for her well-earned retirement this autumn, we’re celebrating her incredible dedication and the difference she has made to thousands of lives. Trish’s story is part of our Faces Behind the Care series, shining a light on the people who make our hospice the special place it is today.
From the Very First Shift
Trish’s journey with Saint Michael’s began in November 1989, at the Convent of the Holy Child Jesus at Apley Grange. She was 30 years old, a mother of two young children, Christopher and Rachel, and about to start her very first night shift.
“I’d never worked in palliative care before. It was a small unit, just five beds, two staff on nights. From the very beginning I was struck by the warmth, care, and compassion of the team. It was different to anything I’d seen before.”
The convent overlooked Sister Margaret’s gardens, and patients were cared for in individual rooms. It was in those early years that Trish realised caring for people at the end of their life was something she felt passionate enough about to dedicate the rest of her working life to.
When Saint Michael’s moved to Crimple House in 1994, Trish was there too. “I remember coming in on one of those first nights, floorboards were still up downstairs, everything was half-finished. But we stayed all night to get it ready. Not long after, the work was done and patients started to arrive. It’s been my second home ever since.”
That move was only possible because of the generosity of the community. More than 90 local businesses, together with countless individuals, supported the Crimple House Appeal, helping to raise £1.4 million to open the hospice’s new home. It was a remarkable show of community spirit, one that continues to sustain Saint Michael’s to this day.
The Quiet Strength of the Night Shift
At first, nights were a practical choice, allowing Trish to work around childcare. But over time, she discovered a unique rhythm to working through the night.
“The nights are different,” she explains. “It’s quiet, and you can spend real one-to-one time with patients and families. People open up about their fears, or share stories they might not during the day. You build special connections.”
One of her most treasured memories is of a patient who longed for a glass of champagne. “She was very poorly, but she wanted that taste. So we popped the cork, clinked glasses, and throughout the night we helped her sip the champagne. And when she was too weak we dipped mouth care sponges into the champagne so she could enjoy the taste. Her last wish before she died. Those little moments stay with you forever. Nursing is not just about medicine, it’s about dignity, love, and joy.”
Over the years, she has also seen the deep comfort that pets bring to patients. “Dogs, cats, even birds have come in to visit their owners,” she recalls. “From little lap dogs curling up on the bed, to one enormous Pyrenean Mountain Dog, and even a budgie in its cage. After 37 years, I truly believe animals can sense what’s happening. I’ve seen dogs quietly settle beside their person, as if they know. It’s incredibly moving.”
Family Life and Sacrifice
Family Life and SacrificeBehind Trish’s 37 years of service is her family, who have supported her every step of the way. Her husband of 44 years has been there through it all, driving her to and from every single shift. “I don’t drive,” she says. “So he would drop me off at night, collect me again at 8am, and then head straight off to his own job. He’s done that for nearly four decades.”
Her children, Christopher and Rachel, grew up with Saint Michael’s woven into their daily lives. After finishing a night shift, Trish would often go straight into “mum mode”, taking the children to school before finally heading home to catch a few hours of sleep. By mid-afternoon she was awake again, ready to collect them at 3pm. “It was exhausting at times, but you just found a way to make it work,” she says.
Christmas mornings, birthdays, and family events were often shaped around her shifts. The children had a tradition of opening their stockings first thing in the morning, but waiting until Trish came home to unwrap their main presents together. “One year my husband brought the children to collect me on Christmas morning, both of them still in their pyjamas. Santa hadn’t been yet, but by the time they got home, he had.”
In fact, Trish worked almost every Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve throughout her career, 36 out of 37 years, missing only one, the year her own mother sadly died. “It’s just what my family have always known,” she says.
That sense of pride and commitment has passed to the next generation. Last year, Rachel took on the Great North Run in honour of her mum’s decades of care, raising money for Saint Michael’s so that other families could experience the same compassion she had witnessed throughout her childhood.
A Legacy of Care and Compassion
A Legacy of Care and CompassionOver nearly four decades, Trish has seen thousands of patients and families come through the doors. The handwritten thank-you notes she has received remain among her most treasured possessions.
“One, in particular, has stayed with me. It was from the niece of a lady who died here. She wrote about the difference we had made on that one night, how much it meant to her aunt and the family. It’s those words that remind you why you do this job.”
She is quick to challenge the idea that hospices are sad, heavy places.
“There’s so much life and laughter here,” she says. “Hospices are about creating precious memories and making the most of the time that’s left.”
Looking Ahead
As she steps into retirement, Trish is looking forward to more time with her family, including her four grandchildren aged 14, 12, 8 and 4. She also hopes to enjoy more fishing trips with her husband, take up photography, and travel. A special holiday to Switzerland is already booked, where she and her husband will travel through the snowy Alps on the Glacier and Bernina Express, a long-held dream.
“But the thing I’ll miss most is the team,” she says with emotion. “The laughter, the support, the togetherness. We’ve shared tears, yes, but so much joy too. Saint Michael’s has been a huge part of my life. It always will be.”
Why Your Support Matters
Trish’s story is a reminder of the heart of Saint Michael’s Hospice: the people who give their time, care, and love to make every moment count. But this work is only possible because of the generosity of our community.
“We can only do what we do because people support us,” Trish says. “Please, carry on supporting us. Get involved. It’s so worthwhile. This hospice belongs to the community, and it needs you.”
As we celebrate Trish’s extraordinary 37 years of service, we invite you to honour her service by supporting the Faces Behind the Care campaign. Your donation ensures that future families will receive the same compassion, comfort, and dignity that Trish has given so selflessly for nearly four decades.
